General Notes

[Direct Linage1.FTW]

Note:
P L Kessler <plk@@globalnet.co.uk>, The History Files, Home Publishing 1999, www.users.globalnet.co.uk\_plk\history.htm, Internet.

Powys
Centered around Shropshire at Caer Meguaidd, and covering much of the modern Welsh border, Powys was Vortigern's native land. It seems probable that in Vortigern's time Powys did not extend to the North Welsh coast, as the king of Dogfeiling & Pengwern in the 7th century seems to have had easy access between his two kingdoms.
Powys derived its name from descriptive Latin (pagenses "(land of the) country dwellers" or "people of the pagi", the Roman equivalent of district council areas). Vortigern's second son was handed Powys when Vortigern became High King. In later years, as the Norman attacks pushed in Wales' free borders, what was left of Powys came to be ruled by Gwynedd.


After the legions had left, the Picts and Scots (Irish colonizers in Scotland) set about to invade the former province at once. The Romano-Britons requested help from Rome, then ruled by Honorius, which
twice extended its aid. However, the last time, the Romans informed the Britons that they could not come again "Accompanied by the tears of the miserable inhabitants" (William of M). The Scots and Picts make fresh attacks, the Britons are hard pressed. The leader of the Britons is Vortigern, "a man calculated neither for the field nor the council, but wholly given up to the lusts of the flesh, the slave of every vice, a charachter of insatiable avarice, ungovernable pride, unquenchable lust." (William of M). In other words, he's going to be the scapegoat.

Seeing that the Britons are not militaristic enough to defeat their current enemies, Vortigern invited the Angles and Saxons from Germany to help defeat the Picts and Scots. The Germans agree, and lead by Hengist and Horsa, set about to bring over a multitude of warriors, defeat the Picts and Scots, and start to settle in England. In the meantime, Hengist sends back to the old country for more men, as Britain offered "the prospect of advantage which it afforded to new adventurers." (WofM). Hengist then uses his daughter to entrap the lecherous Vortigern into bequething Kent to the Saxons.

The Angles and Saxons sought to increase their lands, but their arose another leader after Vortigern, Ambrosius, "the sole survivor of the Romans, who became monarch after Vortigern, quelled the presumptuous barbarians with the help of Arthur." (WofM). It is interesting to note that William makes the following statement, as a contemporary of Geoffrey of Monmouth: "This is that Arthur, of whom the Britons fondly fable even to the present day; a man worthy to be celebrated, not by idle fictions,
but in authentic history." William credits Arthur with the victory of Mount Badon, which created a peace which lasted for some time. However the Angles and Saxons continued to pour forth from their homelands and the Britons were gradually forced back.

http://home.worldonline.dk/kmariboe/fgspwelsh.html